Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Chinese Names

A JOKE in China goes that if you call out the name Wang Wei in the street at least one person is bound to respond.

The name Wei, or “Mighty”, is so popular that parents have been turning to ancient and esoteric dictionaries to find more unusual monikers for their children. Not anymore. The Ministry of Public Security has drawn up new rules and babies’ names must in future be drawn from a database that excludes thousands of rare Chinese characters. Out go indecipherable names. With the introduction of electronic identity cards, the authorities will register only names that they decide to include on their database.

Bao Suixian, a deputy director at the ministry, said: “We cannot handwrite rare characters on the cards like we did before.” About 60 million of China’s 1.3 billion people have at least one rare character in their name, making it difficult for them to open a bank account or to buy an aircraft ticket. The fashion for unusual names is understandable in a society emerging from decades of revolutionary fervour when many children were called “Leap Forward”, “Cultural Revolution”, “Safeguard the Red” or — possibly the most popular — “Found the Nation”.

About Me

To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous.

Confucius

When I became Christian I voluntarily crucified my mind, and all the crosses that I bear have only been a source of joy for me. I have lost nothing, and gained everything.

Father Seraphim Rose

The knowledge of the Cross is concealed in the sufferings of the Cross.

St Issac the Syrian

Whatever you may be seeking, seek it with all your strength, but do not expect your own search and efforts to bear fruit of themselves. Put your trust in the Lord, ascribing nothing to yourself, and He will give you your heart's desire.

St Theophan the Recluse

A silent man is a son of wisdom and is always gaining great knowledge.

St John Climacus

We have heard enough of liberty and the rights of man; it is high time to hear something of the duties of men and the rights of authority.